Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

The adventure continues

October 15, 2022  —  Peru 2

Road from Callalli to Chivay

Road from Callalli to Chivay - Peru
Guest house in the village of Callalli.

We've been travelling through the high mountains of Peru for a week now. The scenery is often breathtaking, yet we've seen no other travellers on these high-altitude trails.

Over the past few days, we've been riding at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 5,222 metres. That's a lot of magnificent ascents and descents, sometimes in the space of just a few dozen kilometres.

Road from Callalli to Chivay - Peru


Near Chivay, we took advantage of these pretty thermal springs to take a break.

Road from Callalli to Chivay - Peru
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Laguna de Salinas

Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru

After passing through the beautiful city of Arequipa, we continued our journey into the high Peruvian mountains.

Here's the Laguna de Salinas located in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca national reserve. This salt lake, at an altitude of 4,300 metres, is fed by temporary streams that form during rainfall.

Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
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Trail from Arequipa to Lucco

Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Thierry B. in the sand.

On our previous trip to the United States, Thierry often took the time to take a photo of me after a fall in the sand, mud and sometimes rocky terrain. He said it was important to document the event, because it makes for good memories and great stories.

For once, the roles were reversed. I was really smiling when I took his photo and I was also taunting him a bit. I took my time before coming over to help him; after all, we're at over 4,000 metres and I can't make any sudden efforts as we're short of breath. As for me, I managed not to fall.

Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Now it's the other Thierry's turn.
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru
Trail Arequipa-Laguna de Salinas-Volcán Ubinas-Lucco - Peru

Road from Lucco to Puno

Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru

A small store typical of the region. It's very pleasant to drive around this region, as you can see typical villages where people are dressed in the traditional way.

Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru


Sometimes the potholes on the track are quite deep. After hitting a hole at too high a speed, I broke the bike's centre stand. I had to remove it completely to continue my journey and have it repaired when we passed through the city of Puno.

Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru

Once again, by pure chance, we passed a village at the time of a local festival and bullfight.

The most impressive thing was to see all the locals in traditional clothes.

Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru
Road Lucco-Yunga-Juncal-Puno - Peru